Skip to main content

The Tesla semitruck will roll out platooning and forward-thinking design

Elon Musk promises Tesla's semi will 'blow your mind clear out of your skull'

Tesla
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Earlier this year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company’s much-discussed electric semitruck would be unveiled in September. Model 3 bottlenecks and the hurricane in Puerto Rico have delayed the debut until November 16, but an image posted to Reddit gives us an early glimpse at the vehicle’s forward-thinking design. We expect what’s under the skin will be at least as ground-breaking as the sheet metal.

As you would expect from the all-electric automaker, the semitruck looks aerodynamic, futuristic, and downright elegant. At first glance, the truck appears significantly shorter than the official teaser photo (above), but keen-eyed Redditors theorized the silver cap on the left could be the truck’s fairing and promptly Photoshopped it on. Looks pretty close, doesn’t it?

Tesla hasn’t officially commented on the photo, so we’ll have to wait until the unveiling for confirmation. Most recently, Musk took to Twitter to hype up reveal, which will be streamed on Tesla’s website at 8 PM PST. “This will blow your mind clear out of your skull and into an alternate dimension,” he said. “Just need to find my portal gun.” The executive certainly has a way with words.

The leaked image will certainly bolster enthusiasm for what could be another game-changing product from Tesla. The brand is trying to do for the trucking industry what it has already done for the car industry: make electric powertrains desirable, sustainable, and usable on a daily basis. But that will be easier said than done.

The Tesla semitruck will have a range of 200 to 300 miles, according to a recent Reuters report. That is adequate for a passenger car, but not for a long-haul truck. Tesla may need to create a denser network of charging stations to meet truckers’ demands, and harness more powerful technology to charge a battery pack big enough to power a truck in a timely manner. It’s also unclear how much the Tesla truck will cost and whether it will carry a price premium over conventional diesel trucks, which carry six-digit price tags. Granted, lower maintenance and fuel costs could prove attractive to operators trying to maximize profits.

Musk previously suggested it will be possible to drive its truck “like a sports car,” partly due to its low center of gravity and a monstrous amount of instant torque. He also revealed the specs are better than anything he’s seen reported so far, so we could be in for a real surprise when the covers come off next week. Operators who are tired of driving will be in luck, too, because the truck will receive some form of Tesla’s Autopilot suite of electronic driving aids.

Website Teslarati reports the truck will be capable of platooning, which refers to a group of trucks using on-board sensors to travel in a platoon. The computers handling the truck’s braking and steering systems react much faster than a human, so the trucks are able to follow each other much more closely than if they were driven by humans. This technique saves time, fuel, and a substantial amount of money.

Tesla semi truck teaser
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While luxury automakers were completely blindsided by the Model S, truck manufacturers are prepared for a Tesla assault. Cummins, a manufacturer of diesel engines, recently unveiled a prototype electric truck of its own. Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler is building small batches of electric commercial trucks, albeit in different market segments than the one Tesla is eyeing. Another company named after Nikola Tesla — Nikola Motor Company — unveiled a hydrogen semi truck in 2016 and plans to build a network of hydrogen stations for customers to use. Toyota is testing its own hydrogen semi truck in Los Angeles. And Ford and Volkswagen are also keeping a close eye on the sector.

Regardless of which company comes out on top, zero-emission semi trucks could have a major environmental impact. Commercial trucks cover vastly more mileage than the average passenger car every year, but get much worse fuel economy that often falls down to the single-digits. Converting semi trucks to battery or fuel-cell power could eliminate a lot of carbon emissions, and go a long way in solving the air pollution problem nations all around the globe are battling.

Update: We’ve added the latest teaser image and tentative technical specifications.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
The Tesla Model Y is far from my favorite EV, but I’m pretty close to buying one
Tesla Model Y One Millionth Car

I may finally be on my way toward buying my first EV. Sure, I've tested dozens of electric car models over the years, but despite that (or perhaps because of it), I have yet to buy one. But my family is growing, and my wife and I aren't so sure about carting our future kids around in an aging car that lacks the safety features of modern vehicles.

Because of the fact that we're expecting our kid in January, we have a bit of a deadline. So what are we leaning toward? Well, despite the fact that it's far from my favorite EV, we may actually end up just getting a Model Y.
Timing makes a difference
If the baby was coming along in a year's time, things might be completely different. There are a few reasons for that.

Read more
Tesla’s charging connector is taking over. Here’s every company that will switch
A Tesla Wall charger connects to a Model X via the NACS connector style.

It looks like the days of different charging connectors for different electric cars may be coming to a close. After years of Tesla using its self-designed NACS connector, and pretty much everyone else using the CCS connector, it seems like everyone will ultimately switch to the Tesla NACS port.

Of course, that will take some time, and not every company has announced that they're switching to the NACS connector just yet. When (and if) they do, however, there will be one unifying charging standard in the U.S., allowing any EV driver to go to any charging station. This should help alleviate much of the confusion around charging standards.

Read more
Tesla’s charger won. What EV buyers and owners need to know about NACS
Tesla Supercharger

The electric vehicle space is changing, and quick. While only a few months ago the majority of EV makers used the J1772 connector for Level 2 charging, and the CCS connector for DC fast charging, in a few years that may be completely different. Why? Many of the top carmakers have announced the switch to the North American Charging Standard, or NACS -- also known best as "the Tesla plug."

Curious about what this means for you? Here's everything you need to know.
What is the NACS
The NACS is a charging standard for a connector that was created by Tesla and first used on Tesla cars in 2012. The standard is also used on all Tesla charging stations, allowing Tesla drivers to charge their cars at Superchargers, Destination Chargers, and using the Tesla Wall Connector. Tesla announced that it was opening the standard up to other carmakers.
Which cars currently use the NACS connector?
Currently, all Tesla cars make use of the NACS connector, allowing Tesla drivers to charge their cars at any Tesla-branded charging station, or other charging stations with the use of an adapter.

Read more